Statements

300 delegates representing churches from throughout Europe
countries are gathering today in Lyon, France,
for the 13th Assembly of the Conference of European Churches (CEC).

Of the 300 delegates, 41 are young people. 170
delegates are male, and 130 are female. 109 are lay people and 191 are
ordained. There are 25 delegates who are black or from a minority ethnic
group, or who are representing a migrant church.

30. June 2009 - 8:28To the Most Reverend Hierarchs, the Reverend Priests and Deacons, the Monks and Nuns, the Presidents and Members of the Parish Councils of the Greek Orthodox Communities, the Distinguished Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, the Day, Afternoon, and Church Schools, the Philoptochos Sisterhoods, the Youth, the Hellenic Organizations, and the entire Greek Orthodox Family in America

Beloved Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

The Fourth of July is a day when we join with people across this nation and around the world in the celebration of an historic achievement that exalted the necessity of human freedom and initiated a political and social environment filled with opportunity and potential. The United States of America, in the words of Abraham Lincoln, was "conceived in liberty," dedicated to the ideal of justice and equality for all, thus becoming a nation that broadened the scope and function of citizenship and of the meaning of belonging and community.

The Fourth pre-conciliar all-orthodox conference - which was organized by His Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, with the blessing of Their Graces Heads of local Orthodox Churches, expressed at their gathering at the Phanar from October 10-12, 2008 - was held at the Orthodox Center of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Chambesy (Geneve) from June 6-12, 2009.

The President of the Republic Boris Tadic talked today with members of the Holy Synod of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church - Metropolitan Amfilohije of Montenegro and the Littoral and bishops Irinej of Nish, Irinej of Bachka, Fotije of Dalmatia and Grigorije of Zahumlje and Herzegovina.

The President of Serbia talked with the members of the Synod about all actual social issues.

The President Tadic informed the representatives of the Church that the Society for building the St Sava Cathedral on Vrachar, which is presided by him, will make efforts in following period in order to finish the cathedral.

The Holy Assembly of Bishops, at the session of May 21, 2009 under ABno. 79/ord. 148, brought this decision:

To finally approve the established text of the Constitution of the Serbian Orthodox Church for the North and South America, which is to be effective on a day of bringing this decision, or May 21/8 2009.

With this decision of the Holy Assembly of Bishops the Transient regulations for management ceased to apply between the Serbian Orthodox Church in the USA and Canada and the Metropolitanate of New Gracanica.

The Holy Assembly of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church, on its session on May 21, 2009, by the number ABno, 49/ord. 147, brought this decision:

Upon the clause 16 of the Constitution of the Serbian Orthodox Church, and with the established suggestion of the Episcopal Council of the Serbian Orthodox Church in North and South America and two members of the Holy Assembly of Bishops (His Grace Bishop Hrizostom of Zhicha and His Grace Bishop Irinej of Bachka), to execute the redistribution of existing dioceses of the Serbian Orthodox Church: Midwestern American, Eastern American, Western American and Canadian of the Serbian Orthodox Church in the USA and Canada; and Dioceses for America and Canada of the Metropolitanate of New Gracanica, with certain renaming of their titles and moving of their seats, in order to the canonic territory of the Serbian Orthodox Church on the territory of the North and South America now is consisting of: